UFC Fight Night – Petr Yan vs. Marcus McGhee: Preview & Betting Tips

This bout between number two ranked bantamweight Petr Yan and number 13 ranked Marcus McGhee seems a strange fight to schedule on paper from Yan’s perspective. However this one should be fireworks from start to finish.

Yan is loved by MMA fans because he has a well-rounded skillset, he has a pressure-heavy striking style combined with sharp defensive wrestling. Plus, Yan’s durability, experience in five-round wars, and technical boxing make him fun to watch against just about anybody.

The American has shown that he loves to throw punches in bunches, which is one of the reasons for his high knockout rate. But, he has not faced anyone with the same ability as the Russian. It is interesting to note that McGhee trains alongside former bantamweight champion Sean O’Malley, who has beaten Yan in the past, adding an extra layer of intrigue to this matchup.

McGhee is no O’Malley though. Besides, it was a largely contentious decision victory that O’Malley scored over Yan anyway. 

Yan vs McGhee: Prediction & Betting Tips

Yan has a very high-level fight IQ, and has proven performances against elite competition on multiple occasions. His ability to pressure opponents, land clean combinations, and mix in sneaky trips, to take opponents to the mat when necessary, makes him the deserved favourite here. That said, he will need to respect McGhee’s power and speed, especially early in the fight.

McGhee needs to find a way to disrupt Yan’s rhythm and land effectively in exchanges early. He does like to throw combinations, so landing multiple strikes during exchanges could sway the judges over someone like Yan who likes to pick his shots with precision. 

I am taking Petr Yan to win this inside the distance purely because I think he is levels above McGhee, even though the American is tough. My pick is Petr Yan to win by KO/TKO or DQ at odds of 5.60 (Bet MGM).